On meeting Shamcey Supsup—the woman who made famous the “tsunami” walk—in person, you would be struck by how delicate she is, contrary to the perception that she is a feisty and fiery beauty queen.
At her launch as one of the endorsers of the Watsons’ chain of health and drug stores, along with fellow beauty queen Venus Raj, she brought more books than gowns.
Supsup was not into frilly and fancy stuff before becoming Binibining Pilipinas Universe in 2011 and placing third runner-up in the international pageant that same year.
She would rather buy books than designer bags and shoes.
Her love for books helped her excel in school, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in Architecture from the University of the Philippines. She also topped the national licensure examinations for architects.
This year, she is preparing for another milestone—but this time it is romantic, not scholastic.
She got engaged in June to her boyfriend of two years Lloyd Lee. The wedding is set for December. There was a minor glitch when she lost her wedding ring in Nueva Ecija where she judged a pageant.
BEAUTY queen shows off her collection which she only started after winning in Binibing Pilipinas. AUGUST DELACRUZ/INQUIRER
(Following Chinese custom, Supsup started wearing her wedding ring on the day of her engagement to Lee.)
With or without expensive gems, she is expected to make a radiant bride.
Although busy preparing for her wedding, Supsup found the time to offer some advice to Ariella Arida, the Philippines’ bet in this year’s Miss Universe pageant to be held in Russia on Nov. 9.
Supsup acknowledged that there was tremendous pressure on Arida, especially because her predecessors did well in the contest. Aside from Supsup’s third runner-up finish in the competition, Raj was fourth and Janine Tugonon, first.
Supsup advised Arida to remain calm. “If we were able to make it, she could, too,” she said. “She is not different from us. Stars just aligned for us. If she is destined to win, it will happen. But she needs to prepare and listen to people who have her best interests at heart, like her family.”
Clothes
“Before I joined Binibini, I never shopped,” Supsup said. “My mom (Marcey) bought clothes for me. At a glance, she can tell right away if the clothes would fit.”
WHEN it comes to dresses, comfort is key.
Supsup admitted to being a finicky shopper. “I take a long time … before buying anything. I ask myself countless times: Do I really want it? Is it worth it?”
She is not an impulse-buyer.
Since Supsup and her mom wear the same dress size, “I often borrow (clothes) from my mom.” But after becoming a beauty queen, she had to add to her wardrobe considerably.
Gowns
Most of her gowns are by Eric de los Santos, who has become “a good friend.”
INTRICATELY beaded red gown by Eric de los Santos
She prefers slim and tapered silhouettes over flowing ball gowns. “I get scared that someone would step on my train,” she said.
Although she is open to modish styles, she would rather avoid designs “that are too revealing.”
“I don’t like tube tops. You have to pull them up all the time, worrying about a wardrobe malfunction (constantly),” she explained.
Supsup gives priority to comfort.
She had no color preferences but noted that “sheer, nude fabrics are now in vogue. I also like gowns with intricate beadwork.”
As for her wedding, Cherry Veric will create the gown for the ceremony and Francis Libiran for the reception.
Shoes
The woman who made the “tsunami” walk look so effortless was not a big fan of stilettos as a teener.
“Prior to joining the pageant, I only had two pairs of footwear: rubber shoes and tsinelas (flip-flops),” she revealed.
Post-Binibini, she was forced to start an
extensive shoe collection. She wears size 8 1/2 to 9 shoes.
“I want shoes that are stable,” she said. “Some shoes look pretty but are painful when you walk.”
As for colors, she prefers classics. “Nude, black, gold and silver.”
Bags
LONDON Fog bag and Rayban shades
She has a modest collection that includes a favorite tote.
“When I travel, I take this Longchamp bag with me,” she said. “It’s lightweight. Other bags are heavy even when empty.”
She said she usually carried a lot of stuff. “I bring everything,” she said. “Wallet, cell phones, tablet, gadgets.”
Another favorite is a satchel by London Fog.
Most of her bags are gifts. “My makeup kit was a present from a friend.”
Cosmetics
As a former Binibining Pilipinas, she has mastered the fine art of makeup.
She trained under Albert Kurniawan of Aces and Queens.
MAKEUP kit is a gift from a friend after Miss Universe
Kurniawan will do her makeup on her wedding day.
“He let me practice with his old makeup kit until I got it right.”
In her kikay kit are “blocking pressed powder, lipstick, lip balm, eyebrow pencil, eyeliner, false eyelashes.”
She researches cosmetics, too.
Accessories
She was not too fond of bangles and baubles before becoming a beauty queen.
“I didn’t know how to pick accessories.”
Now that she is a celebrity, she has gotten used to wearing accessories.
For everyday, casual wear, she is partial to “long necklaces with huge pendants.”
“These pendants come in various colors. They go well with any outfit.”
For formal wear, she prefers small studs.
Watches
Titan watch is a present, too
A favorite is a Titan watch, a gift from the store’s owners. It is just the right shape, size and style. “I want a watch that’s sleek and elegant,” she said. “Something that is feminine and glittery.”
Gadgets
She never leaves home without her gadgets. The Samsung endorser is always doodling on her tablet.
In her spare time, she would design homes. She is currently hosting the show “Interior Motives” on the Lifestyle Network.
She revealed she already had her dream house in mind. “I am into sustainable development. I want a modern home with the ambience of a tropical resort. Cozy, with lots of greenery, straight lines and wood.”
She loves taking and collecting pictures of home interiors.
She admitted to being awed by modern technology. “When I am abroad, I stay in touch with friends through Twitter and Facebook.”
Swimsuits
Growing up in General Santos City, she never wore swimsuits. She would don shorts and T-shirts at the beach.
“I’m still very conservative,” she said. “The first time I wore a bikini was for the pageant.”
And that would be the last.
“When you Google (me), all these swimsuit photos pop up. I did many swimwear pictorials as a beauty queen (because it was) part of my job. Those photographs are more than enough,” she said.
Books
BOOKS galore by Bob Ong, JK Rowling, JRR Tolkien and Agatha Christie
The certified bookworm said, “I grew up in the province. We didn’t have television sets and video games to keep us preoccupied” so she turned to books for entertainment.
“That’s how I developed my love for reading,” she said. “My mom, however, thought fiction was a waste of time and money. She wanted me to stick to textbooks.”
Since she was not allowed to buy novels, she borrowed from friends. A schoolmate lent her the complete set of Nancy Drew mystery books. She later moved on to Agatha Christie novels. “My favorite is ‘Spider’s Web.’”
She discovered the fantasy world of JK Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series when, in high school, she stayed in Japan for two months, under a student exchange program.
“My host family bought me my first ‘Harry Potter’ book,” she recalled. “I finished it in one night—in one sitting. The second ‘Harry’ book, I speed-read in two nights.”
She read all seven “Harry Potter” novels.
Other favorites are JRR Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
Now, she is reading Bong Ong. “A lot of people can relate to his humor. His outlook is very Filipino.”
(E-mail bayanisandiegojr@gmail.com)